Adjustable metallic frame.



L. BLAND. ADJUSTABLE METALLIC FRAME.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 10, 1912.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Snom/Ato@ @XM/kwamen LOUIS BLAND, 0F4 SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE METALLIC FRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Application filed February 10, 1912. Serial No. 676,742.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS BLAND, citizen ofthe United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectadyand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Adjustable Metallic Frames, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to metallic frames and particularly to frames madeup of metallic sections.

The primary object is to provide a frame of this character, in which thesections of the frame include corner pieces, each corner piece beingformed of an integral piece of metal, angular in cross-section and bentat right angles and to provide novel means whereby the angular legs ofthe sections so bent may be held in proper angular relation to eachother wit-hout the use of solder, rivets or relatively expensive means.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a frame constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of acorner piece or section before the legs are Yfolded into right angularrelation and the clips tightened. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line3 3 of Fig. l, showing thelugs Contactin with each other and the clipstightened. 4 is a perspective detail view-of adjacent `portions of thetelescopic sections of the frame and 'the joint vconcealing band, thesections of the band being separated from each; other. Fig. 5 is afragmentary view of the blank before it is folded up. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal fragmentary section of the frame at the joint, showing amodified means for holding the concealing band in place. f

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters.

As illustrated, my improved frame comprises corner pieces 2, all thecorner pieces.

being of the same character.` The ends of these corner pieces mayoverlap each other as indicated in Fig. 1, but in Fig. 1, I have alsoshown the use of intermediate pieces or stretchers 3 disposed betweenthe corner pieces so thatthey provide for a frame of considerablelength. Preferably, however.

{The under cut I Vsimply use for the making of the frame four cornerpieces 2, each corner piece bemg formed with the legs or extensions 3and 4, which are at right angles to each other.

Each corner piece is preferably made of sheet metal angular incross-section and preferably having the form` of a channel iron. Thestrip of metal, from which the corner pieces are made, has one or bothof ltspflanges, as for instance, flange 5 or the anges 5 and 6 cut awayas at 7, thus permitting the strip of metal to be bentupon the line 8 soas to form two legs 3 and 4 at right angles to each other. In order tohold these legs 3 and 4 in proper angular rela tion, the flan e 5 oreach flange 5 and 6 is provided at t e edge of the cut-away portion 7with a projecting lug 9, the lug on one wall opposed to the lug of theopposite wall of the cut-away portion 7, as illustrated in Fig. 3.Preferably, each lug 9 has somewhat the form of a. dovetail so as toprovide a relatively narrow neck 10.

When 'the strip from which the corner piece is made is angularly bent tothe form shown in Fig. 3, t ese lugs 9 are bent inward and the faces ofthe lugs contact with each other. A clip 11 of wire is then placedtightly around both lugs so as to hold the lugs 1n' close 'uxtaposltionto each other.

lateral edges of the lugs hold the wire in place and prevent itsslipping off. It will be seen that this wire may be very readily put inposition upon the lugs,

whereas it would be ditlicult to rivet the lugs together at this point.Once the clip 1l is is place, it will not readily slip of and will bindthe legs ofthe corner pieces in proper angular relation to each otherand prevent any expansion of these legs.

As shown in Fig. 1, two of the corner pieces are larger in cross-sectionthan the two other corner pieces so that a leg of one of the cornerpieces will slip into a telescopic engagement with the leg of anadjacent corner piece. This permits the frame to be reduced in size orincreased in size to fit any desired picture. The joint, however, formedby one of the legs overlapping the adjacent leg of the other cornerpiece is objectionableand hence I have provided means for concealingthis joint. As illustrated, this means consists of a strip of'metal 12,which is supported immediately over the ed e ofV one of the cornerpieces, concealing the joint,

and forms apparently a bead which extends around the frame sections.This band is angular in form and conforms to-the cross sectional shapeof the frame sections, that is, if the frame sections are U-shaped y, incross-section the band will be U-shaped. The band is held in 'place byan integral tongue designated 13, which projects from the end of oneofthe frame sections. The band 12 is slotted as at 14 for the insertionof the tongue 13 and after the band is in place upon the frame section,this tongue 13 is bent over in any suitable manner so as to hold theband in place upon the frame. Preferably, there are as many of thesetongues 13 as there are sides to the frame section. If the frame sectionis U-shape in cross-section then there Will be preferably three of thesetongues 13. I do not Wish to limit myself to the placing of thesetongues,

Y as, if desired they'may be placed on the sides of the frame sectionand not-upon the outer face thereof, at all. These tongues 13 are forcedtightly down and the ends of the tongues may be passed beneath the band,or as illustrated in Fig. 7, the tongues need not pass through a slot inthe band but may be brought over the band and turned beneath the same.Preferably, however, in order to prevent any slipping of the band, thetongue is passed through the slot. The band 12 is, of course, carriedupon the two frame sections, which have the larger legs and which -slipover the frame sections which are smaller in cross-section. These bands12 not only conceal the joint, but add tothe ornamental character of theframe by breaking the continuity of its lines. 7lhese bands may beornamented' in any desired manner so as to add considerably to theornamental character of the frame or they may be left entirely plain.

lt will be noted that where the frame is closed up a greater degree thanillustrated in Fig. 1, the band 12 carried by one of the sections, willbe forced toward the ends or sides of the frame vand as a consequencethe frame will vnot be in bilateral symmetry, which is necessary inorder to give a proper ornamental eect. ln order to avoid this, lprovide additional bands 15, which are purely ornamental, these bandsconforming in shape to thecross-section of 'the frame and having theirterminal extremities 16 bent inward beneath the edges of the saidflanges of the frame. These bands may be either removed entirely fromthe frame or iper-,eee

picture, the frame sectionsfitting inside each v other so closely thatthe frictional engagement between the frame sections will hold the framesections in their proper position.

In order that the frame and the inclosed picture may be readilysupported on a AWall without the use of nails, cords or like fasteningdevices, I provide prongs 17 which are struck out from the rearmostlateral ange of the upper corner sections and may be forced into thewall. When not supported upon a wall, these prongs may be forced yinwardsomewhat, thus permitting the frame to be readily carried in a trunkwithout damaging other articles therein.

While I have described my frame as made of sheet metal, as it preferablyis, yet the frame might be made of paper or other suitable light andthin material if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A. metallicframe, including corner pieces having legs extending at right angles toeach other and formed with miter joints, the adjacent ends of the legshaving inwardly turned lugs contacting with each other, and loop-shapedclips embracing said lugs andholding the legs in proper angularrelation.

2. ik metallic frame, -including corner pieces having legs extending atright angles to each other and formed with miter joints, the adjacentends of the legs having each an inwardly turned lug, 4each lug beingformed with a relatively narrow neck at its junction with the mainportion of the leg, the lug on the end of one leg contacting with thelug on the end of the other leg and a clip embracing both of saidcontacting lugs and disposed in engagement with the narrow necks thereofand holding the legs in proper angular relation.

l'n testimony' whereof l aiiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

LCYUS ELAN@ jr.. s@

itnesses:

FREDERIC E. WRIGHT. d. Yasmina?.

